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Livestock Project Concerns

Posted by alison.white | April 8, 2020

Dear Yakima County 4-H Livestock Project Families, 

We hope your family is staying safe and doing well during these uncertain times.  

First, thank you to everyone for doing what is needed to help slow the spread of coronavirus. It has been wonderful to see our community work together. This letter is in response to the questions we’ve received about livestock projects. We understand the hard work and time that goes into livestock projects and activities; it is disappointing to see them postponed or canceled. 

The purpose of livestock projects is first and foremost positive youth development. With that, youth develop and learn respect, responsibility, and animal husbandry skills through their project. Although many families have already purchased project animals, many others are getting close to the time to start purchasing and acquiring theirs.  All animal and agriculture endeavors come with an element of risk, such as not making weight or meeting sale requirements, animals becoming ill or other situations preventing exhibition or sale. However, we recognize that there is an additional risk this year in purchasing these projects; considering these project animals are specifically being purchased to exhibit and sell at upcoming community events.

While spring events have been canceled or postponed, we are hopeful that summer fairs, shows, and sales will still be held, however, youth exhibitors should consider alternate plans for their project animals in the event that late summer community events are affected by the continued spread of coronavirus.

As an alternative to a market animal, youth may consider purchasing a breeding animal (e.g., gilt, ewe, doe, breeding beef, dairy heifer) and retain to begin their own herd/flock or sell at a later date as a breeding animal. With a breeding project, youth still participate in fitting and showing, herdsmanship, and other fair/show activities. You may consider purchasing a smaller animal such as poultry or rabbit and sell in a fur and feather sale if your market sale includes these species. 

In-person YQCA training will resume when the ban on large gatherings and social distancing is removed. 

 

Staying up to date

Central WA Junior Livestock Show: On March 27th CWJLS announced that the upcoming show was canceled but exhibitors should still complete all final entry cards (do not submit entry fee) by April 15th. CWJLS is organizing a support fund; all exhibitors that send in final entries will be able to receive monies from that fund. Please visit their website for more details or follow their updates on Facebook.

West Valley Fair: Visit their website or follow their updates on Facebook.

Yakima Valley Fair & Rodeo: Visit their website or follow their updates on Facebook.

Central WA State Fair: Visit their website or follow their updates on Facebook.

Washington State Fair: Visit their website or follow their updates on Facebook.

Yakima County 4-H Youth Development: We will continue to communicate and update everyone via email, our newsletter, our website, and Facebook on any new plans or changes. Please let us know how we can help you, our 4-H office is always here to help. 

 

Please continue to encourage one another and show your support for our community with the generosity we know our 4-H families already practice. Stay safe and take care of yourself and each other.  If you have any concerns or know of 4-H families struggling with their project, please contact the 4-H Office for support.

All our best,

Yakima County 4-H